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UCL-UCU: Industrial Action - Update

26 January 2023

Details of the upcoming 18 days of industrial action called by UCU nationally and our strike organising EGM on Tuesday 31 January

This message is to let you know details about the upcoming 18 days of industrial action called by UCU nationally (dates here). We are also letting you know about a strike organising EGM that will take place on Tuesday 31 January, 12-13.00, online.

The first day of strike action is Wednesday February 1st. It will coincide with strike action by outsourced security staff at UCL, schoolteachers across England and Wales, 100,000 civil servants in the PCS, and ASLEF and RMT train drivers.

The employers responded to last December’s 3 days of strike action with an offer for next year that could mean as much as a real-terms pay cut of 16.3% (2 month’s pay) over 2 years. This is on top of our pay being cut in real terms by 25% between 2009 and 2021.

The latest iteration of this offer, announced today (Thursday 26 January) will mean that most UCU members (those on points 26 and above, from the top of Grade 6 up) will be offered 5% for next year. Coupled with the 3% for this year, against RPI inflation, this works out to a likely 15% pay cut, equivalent to being required to work for nearly two months unpaid every year. The situation is a little better for staff on lower salary points, but even the very lowest paid on UCL point 5 are being expected to absorb a potential 8% cut in real-terms pay (one month unpaid).

In response to this, and with no movement on restoring the unnecessary USS pension cuts of 35%+, the Higher Education Committee of the union has called for 18 days of strike action which is expected to culminate in a Marking and Assessment Boycott in April (should it be necessary).

Strike planning

There will be a follow-up message to this one with details of picket locations, kid-friendly picket areas, joining the national demonstration called by NEU, the hardship funds (national and local), and what to do if you cannot get to UCL on the 1st February because of trains.

UCL UCU Executive Committee

www.ucl.ac.uk/ucu
@ucl_ucu

PS: please see our advice on reporting your strike action.